South Koreans Vote In High-Stakes Presidential Election Following Yoon’s Ouster

South Koreans headed to the polls on Tuesday in a pivotal presidential election triggered by the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, just six months after he declared martial law. The move, which reignited fears of military-era repression, plunged the country into its worst political and economic crisis in decades.

The race pits liberal Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung, who has vowed to root out the “insurrection forces” behind Yoon’s failed coup, against conservative People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo, who warned against Lee’s “dictatorship-like” leadership.

Voting runs from 6am to 8pm, with results expected around midnight. Over 44 million people are registered to vote, including 15.4 million who cast early ballots.

Both leading candidates have pledged to boost economic growth and the AI industry. On foreign policy, Lee supports pragmatic diplomacy, while Kim calls for stronger deterrence against North Korea. The two also support constitutional reforms to allow presidential re-election, though they differ on timelines and execution.

The winner will take office immediately, with an inauguration expected at the National Assembly later in the day.

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